ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	House: TRANS DP 7-3-1-1

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HB 2712: highway alignments; environmental impact statement

Sponsor:  Representative Hoffman, LD 12

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), for a tier 1 environment impact statement and record of decision in specific counties, to ensure the selection of a new state highway alignment that services the most populous areas with the greatest potential for economic development and prioritizes the majority of public stakeholder feedback.

History

The primary purpose of an environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act is to ensure agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions in decision making (40 CFR § 1502.1). The discussion of environmental consequences must include: 1) The environmental impacts of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action and the significance of those impacts; 2) Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented; 3) The relationship between short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity; 4) Any irreversible or irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposal should it be implemented; 5) Possible conflicts between the proposed action and the objectives of Federal, regional, State, Tribal and local land use plans, policies and controls for the area concerned; 6) Energy requirements and conservation potential of various alternatives and mitigation measures; 7) Natural or depletable resource requirements and conservation potential of various alternatives and mitigation measures; 8) Urban quality, historic and cultural resources, and the design of the built environment, including the reuse and conservation potential of various alternatives and mitigation measures; 9) Means to mitigate adverse environmental impacts; and 10) Where applicable, economic and technical considerations, including the economic benefits of the proposed action.

Economic or social effects by themselves do not require preparation of an environmental impact statement. However, when the agency determines that economic or social and natural or physical environmental effects are interrelated, the environmental impact statement shall discuss and give appropriate consideration to these effects on the human environment (40 CFR § 1502.16).

Provisions

1. Requires ADOT, when issuing a final tier 1 environmental impact statement and record of decision for a new state highway in a county with a population of more than 400,000 but less than 800,000 persons, to:

a) Ensure the selection of an alignment that services the most populous geographical area with the greatest potential for economic development based on data related to the anticipated opening date of the state highway; and

b) Prioritize the majority opinion of feedback received from impacted citizens, local jurisdictions and stakeholders during the public comments process as a factor of consideration in the issuance of the final statement and record of decision (Sec. 1)

c)

d)

e) ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

f)                         HB 2712

g) Initials JT        Page 0 Caucus & COW

h)

i) ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------